400M Resort/Casino in OKC (Oklahoma City, Tulsa: amusement park, hotel, lawyers)

[happytown]

On Jan. 22, 2008, the Shawnee Tribe filed formal papers to put 104 acres of land in northeast Oklahoma City into federal trust for the development of a $400 million, high-quality destination entertainment resort.

Plans for the resort include: an 18-story, 400-room upscale hotel, a luxurious spa and salon, an outstanding array of the country’s best-known restaurants and shops, a casino, a 2,400-seat performance hall, a cinema, a bowling center and other high quality features.


I usually dont support casinos but this one looks pretty good. It isnt like all the other cheesy small casinos in Oklahoma. It will be a resort with many amenities and have a 4star hotel if completed.

All private investment. Resort/Hotel in the Adventure District has been needed. They also want to help out Remington Park...make it a nicer venue.

If this were to happen then OKC might be stuck trying to figure out a light rail system to get people from Bricktown to the Adventure District. Too much entertainment to not connect both areas...
Looks like the tribe is really pushing hard. My luck...OKC will get a nice casino and loose out on the NBA because the 'Maps for Millionaires' members are so poorly informed.
Website...
OKC Major League

[2010grad]

Hopefully this is approved. I think it will help expand the Adventure district northwards towards the casion also. The casino is kinda in the middle of rural land, but hopefully it will spur lots of entertainment developments to help fill in those huge empty lots.

I havent seen a couple of those renderings either. It looks great.

[briansgi]

You apparently haven't visited Firelake Grand casino then???

[happytown]

I never have seen Firelake....But it seems really impressive from pictures/website. I dont think the facility even comes close to what the Shawnee tribe wants to do in OKC. Firelake isnt really a resort, but it looks like a nice casino.
It doesnt have spas, a shopping area, movie theatres or bowling. This new resort in OKC(reading the plans) will have a 4 star 400 room 18fl. hotel. That is twice the size of the Firelake 7fl 200rm hotel that looks to be built soon.
This will be a new type of entertainment in Oklahoma and will definately be the nicest resort/casino in OK. It rightfully should considering it will be the anchor for the Adventure district in a major city.

[peggydavis]

They must have had some smart lawyers. The Cherokee Shawnee or the Loyal Shawnee were recognized in the year 2000. The law appears to give the Shawnee the ability to put land in trust anywhere in OK not in the jurisdiction of another tribe, so that would be....Oklahoma City area. I'm sure there will be a big court fight about this.

[happytown]

Mick Cornett is against the proposal probably politics dealing with Remington Park having problems, but I see it as a boost to the area. Remington needs to be upgraded and be used only as a horse track and bring it back to its former glory. I believe the tribe has to show that the area will not suffer from their new resort if built...So most likely they will have to design a way to link the race track with their own facilty along with the Zoo and Science Museum Oklahoma. That is why I think a possible light rail will need to be developed to shuttle people from the adventure district to dtown/btown. The city has wanted to establish rail to connect both districts for a long time and this resort will obviously need it if built. If Remington goes down they say the entire horse community in all of Oklahoma will take a MAJOR hit and might not recover.
The tribe has an upper hand on the whole process as long as they can show that the resort/casino will improve the area. The feds are the ones who will say no or yes to the proposal. They most likely will win against the city.

[peggydavis]

A light rail connection would be tremendous. I wonder if they could use the old trolley route to Lincoln Park, then extend it up north a bit. I wonder if that old MKT railroad tracks could be used, if they are still there.

From Doug Dawgz

The Color-Coded Version
Red=original tracks, Light Blue=later passenger or freight
Purple=freight only, Green=interurban

[happytown]

Its funny to see the former site of the fairgrounds, but sad to see how large the belle isle lake used to be. They had a great old amusement park to accompany the lake...Only old memories now.
I think it could cost less than 75M for the tribe to build a light rail. Heck, they want to invest 400M! It would most certainly be in their best interest along with the city. People could spend a day around Bricktown ect. ect. and then go back to the luxury resort/casino and their fancy hotel at night. Spend a few days at the Zoo/Remington Park/Science museum/Golf at Lincoln Park (Fantastic hilly public course just south of the Zoo). Looks like a week of vacation for someone. It sounds like a big hit to me...just have to wait and see what pans out.

[_redbird_]

Originally Posted by happytown

Mick Cornett is against the proposal probably politics dealing with Remington Park having problems,...

Cornett should know OKC shouldn't go around squashing proposals because Remington is floundering.

And speaking of which, HT, have you been to Remington Racino? That place is pretty cool now. The casino breathed new life into that place. Of course I have always been a fan of the track. Went to Santa Anita many a time in CA.

It will be interesting to see whose interests win out in this.

I think the trend in OK will be the newer mega casinos will be the norm. And the only small casinos to survive will be the ones that are located far away from any large casino.

Wewoka is a good example. We are located almost equal distances from OKC, Tulsa, and McAlester. So, the little Wewoka casino with its 100 slots or so are doing pretty well.

Thunderbird is dying a slow agonizing death. They need to fold their cards and begin with a fresh deck.

[happytown]

Well, Remington Park was never meant to be a casino..LOL.. But that happens in OK when things fail. Hopefully it will rebound...For the entire horse community in Oklahoma it is VERY important for it to be successful, It needs to be a race track ONLY. It represents the State in horse racing ect. ect.